Goat Milk Products
Do you bottle feed your baby goats?
No, we do not. We pride ourselves in the humane treatment of animals, which includes allowing the natural upbringing of our goat kids. Unless it is absolutely necessary (like rejection or health-related issues), all of our baby goats are raised by their dam until weaning age (12 - 16 week minimum).
How are goat milk products different from cows milk?
Our dairy goats have between 6-10% butterfat compared to cows milk which contains 3.4-5%. This makes creamy candy and is a high-vitamin content moisturizer in our skincare line. Goat milk also acts as a gentle exfoliator because of its lactic acid and your skin receives additional nourishment from its vitamins and minerals.
Do your soap bars wash down the drain?
In soapmaking, the fat-to-oil ratio, combined with a balance of saturated and unsaturated fats is important to create a soap bar that lasts long while lathering well. Another factor for a quality soap bar is curing time, the evaporation of water, during which the bar becomes harder. Some additives, such as clay, may expedite this process, but in general, we cure our soaps for several weeks before offering them for sale.
Are your products vegan?
No, they are not. However, we are Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World and follow their strict standards. Our dairy goats have the highest welfare guidelines, including allowing the goat kids to be raised by their mothers, nutritional feed to assist with dairy production, enough pasture space per goat, minimum stress weaning, no use of rBST, and more. Click HERE to view our welfare standards.
Where is your goat milk sourced?
All of the goat milk used in our products are from our own goats. We follow humane practices and standards, and begin milking once a day when the baby goats are 10-12 weeks old (beginning to wean). We never used premade bases or artificially processed powder.
Agriculture
Do you vaccinate your animals?
Because of a closed herd, rotational grazing, and proper nutrition, the animals have a natural, low-stress environment. This creates a strong immune system and minimizes the risk of bringing in infections from outside.
We are selective in the vaccination choices we make and always consider benefits and risks when making these decisions. The sheep and goats receive an annual CD&T (Clostridium perfringens types C and D and tetanus) shot, due to the severity of these diseases, while the vaccine, which does not contain any live pathogens, has been proven safe and effective. We follow best practice and use live and modified live vaccines when needed. Our pigs, chickens, and ducks are not vaccinated. We never use mRNA vaccines.
Do you use antibiotics?
Our animals are mostly grass-fed, and we raise them as organically as possible, without antibiotic additives. However, if an animal is sick and requires medical care, we will not allow suffering and treat them according to current medical standards per veterinarian recommendation. Due to pasture rotation, closed herd, and healthy diet, illness is a rare occurrence, eliminating the need to use routine antibiotics or hormones. Products are handled accordingly.
Are your animals grass-fed?
Our animals have a diet containing at least 80% grass and hay, but are supplemented with grain for additional nutrients and minerals, especially during the cold season or times of increased nutritional needs (pregnancy, nursing), when their needs cannot be met by forage and hay.
Part of the Animal Welfare Approved certification is the requirement to provide unmedicated feed, without undesirable additives (such as animal byproducts), and access to sufficient pasture for foraging, which is verified in annual inspections. To ensure the best quality starting before birth, this certification does not endorse feeder stock from outside sources, but farming practices that breed on the farm under these guidelines.
We currently source our feed from 3 different stores to find the highest quality, clean feed.
Do you breed your own animals?
Yes! Every lamb and piglet is born and raised on our Kentucky pastures.
What breed of animals do you have?
We raise Katahdin hair sheep, registered Nigerian Dwarf goats, and Dexter cattle. Our pigs are crosses of Hampshire and Idaho Pasture Pig. The chickens are a barnyard mix - Delaware, Black Star, Red Star, Rhode Island Red, Ameraucana, Welsummer, Cuckoo Maran, and other home-hatched breeds. Our ducks are Pekin, Khaki Campbell, and Silver Appleyard.
Do you process your own meat?
No, in fact it is illegal to sell meat that is not processed in a USDA facility. All of our meat is processed at Trackside Butcher Shoppe (Campbellsburg, KY).
Part of our Animal Welfare Approved inspection is the humane handling of our livestock at the processing facility.
Fulfillment
When does my order ship?
All meat shipments go out on Mondays - Wednesdays. We do not ship outside of the window to ensure it does not get stuck in transit over the weekend. After it is shipped, your package will arrive in 24-48 hours.
Orders of non-perishable goods ship during the week Monday - Friday, excluding holidays.
How do the frozen goods stay cool over transit?
All frozen products are shipped in insulated boxes with dry ice. UPS is our designated carrier, and you should expect your delivery within 24-48 hours, depending on the selected fulfillment.
Where do you ship?
We can ship to all of the lower 48 states. However, if you are outside of our ground shipping area (list below), your package will go UPS Next Day Air. Unfortunately, we do not have an alternative at this time.
UPS 2-Day Ground: Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Northeastern Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island.
What if my package arrives and has little to no dry ice in it?
Dry ice sublimates in transit, and your order should still arrive frozen. Dry ice transitions directly from a solid to a gas (carbon dioxide) without becoming a liquid. This prevents items from becoming wet or damaged as regular ice would.
We strongly recommend someone being home on the day of your delivery to receive it and place the cold items in the freezer as soon as possible. If no one is home to receive your order and your box sits in the sun all day and thaws, we can not be held responsible and will not replace or refund your order.
When does my order need to be in?
Your order containing frozen goods must be placed by Sunday, 11:59 pm (EST), or it will be fulfilled the following Monday-Wednesday shipment. Non-perishable item orders can be placed at any time.
Do you offer returns?
We have a strict no returns and no refunds policy because of the nature of the products.
We do, however, accept exchanges for our skincare products, in the event you are not happy with your purchase. Please reach out via email at hillsidemeadows.verona@gmail.com.
Can I pick-up my order?
Absolutely! Because we do not have a physical shop, we ask that you order online first, and select the "Pick-Up" option instead of delivery. We will notify you when your order is ready, and give you the pick-up times.
Do you go to any farmers markets?
We do sometimes attend farmers' markets or large craft shows. We post on our social media and announce in our email newletter our current events.
- Independence Farmers Market (Historic Independence Courthouse, Independence, KY); Saturdays from 8:30am - 1pm
- Walton-Verona Farmers and Artisan Market (Walton City Hall, Walton, KY); First Sunday of the Month from 11am-3pm